I am so frustrated it doesn’t make any sense. I know I have a full-time job. I actually work in the surgical field at my local hospital. I am beginning to think I am a fool starting a business. First of all most if not all of my spare time goes into making product’s that aren’t selling for some reason ( don’t know why)? Maybe embarking on this endeavor of entrepreneurship was a mistake. Ugh, I don’t know. At times I feel like I am making a complete fool of myself. Possibly I have bitten off more than I can chew & now I am beginning to choke. Any how thanks to all for lending me your ears or eyes (seeing as how your reading this). I am finding that it takes money to make money & at this point I am losing this game.

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Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:30:55 +0000Sara Gamachuhttps://refresh28.wordpress.com/go/random-thoughts/being-able-to-see/https://theladiescraftbeersociety.com/go/meeting-notes/lcbs-notes-homemade-body-wash/
Mon, 19 Mar 2018 15:37:57 +0000Melissa (I Crashed the Web)https://theladiescraftbeersociety.com/go/meeting-notes/lcbs-notes-homemade-body-wash/The March LCBS was a success! Our group attempted to make homemade body wash, and nearly everyone participated in the craft, some people even making more than one kind. We haven’t tried them out yet, so we’ll see if we like the scents/lathering/everything else you judge a body wash by, but it was an easy craft that everyone enjoyed making, so I’d call that a success.

Want to make your own homemade body wash? Here’s the recipe we followed. They were inspired by these two websites: Wellness Mama and DIY Natural.

Materials needed ^

Materials needed:

2/3 cup liquid castile soap

1/8 to 1/4 cup raw honey

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

30 – 60 drops essential oils (stop and smell along the way! Not everyone used as many as other people – use what smells good to you)

Directions:

Measure out all ingredients and combine in a bottle with a squirt top. We found it easy to use funnels to pour each ingredient into the bottles.

Shake the bottles when done to mix it all up! And shake gently before each use.

That’s it!

I made grapefruit-scented body wash, but some people were more adventurous and tried a few different essential oil combinations. Here are some of the combinations that people made:

Almond and grapefruit

Lavender and orange

Mint and eucalyptus (Stephanie made this and called it “Wake Up Wash”)

For our beer theme of the month, we did “beers that celebrate womanhood.” It was a fitting theme, chosen thanks to International Women’s Day earlier in the month. AND fitting because we had our first beer sponsor – BrewDog!

Cheers!

BrewDog sent us some samples of their Pink IPA to enjoy while we crafted. Here’s a little bit about the Pink IPA (from BrewDog:

Satirically dubbed Beer for Girls, Pink IPA is BrewDog’s clarion call to close the gender pay gap in the U.S. and around the world and to expose sexist marketing to women, particularly within the beer industry. BrewDog will be using its most iconic beer, Punk IPA, as a weapon in this fight, packaging it in lurid pink and renaming to Pink IPA – a send-up of the lazy marketing efforts targeting the female market.

In the U.S., the brewer will also be serving the beer to those who identify as women for 80 percent of the standard retail cost of Punk IPA, mirroring the gender pay gap in the U.S. With the product being identical to the blue-branded Punk IPA, the brewer intends to trigger questions about why women continue to earn less than their male counterparts and offer them a discount on the beer equivalent to the gender pay gap. … BrewDog will [also] be donating 20 percent (the gender pay gap in the U.S.) of its proceeds from canned Pink IPA and Punk IPA to causes that fight against gender inequality.

The ladies loved the Pink IPA and of course, we all loved the charitable contribution associated with it. So a BIG THANK YOU to BrewDog for sending us the beer and supporting women!

2 minute timer helps ensure recommended brushing time. Do not push on the rubber seal on the metal shaft with sharp objects, as this may cause water damage

Rechargeable toothbrush with 2 weeks lifetime between charges. Care – Rinse your Sonicare brush head and bristles after each use to remove toothpaste and food particles

Reminder bristles fade away when brush head replacement is needed

Disclaimer: The prices above are accurate as of the time of posting. Amazon prices may change without notice – always check the price before placing the order.All posts may contain affiliate links that help support the site at no additional cost to you.

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Mon, 19 Mar 2018 02:42:39 +0000OneTinyFishhttps://fishfordeals.wordpress.com/go/beauty/garnier-whole-blends-color-care-mask-with-argan-oil-cranberry-extracts/Garnier Whole Blends Color Care Mask with Argan Oil & Cranberry Extracts, 10.1 Fluid Ounce which normally sells for $8.70 is on sale for $5.49 + FREE Shipping on orders over $25 / Free with Prime. Check out with Subscribe and Save, and pay $5.22, or, if you have 5 subscriptions this month, the price goes down to $4.67. Plus, clip $2 off coupon on page and pay as low as $2.67

Generous rinse-out hair mask treatment boosts vibrancy & illuminates

Formula with argan oil from morocco & north american cranberry extracts reveals hair that is moisturized with brilliant color and lasting radiance

Paraben-free, enriched with a natural blend, gentle for everyday use

Disclaimer: The prices above are accurate as of the time of posting. Amazon prices may change without notice – always check the price before placing the order.All posts may contain affiliate links that help support the site at no additional cost to you.

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Mon, 19 Mar 2018 01:30:08 +0000Shontals Soap Co.https://shontalssoaps.wordpress.com/go/uncategorized/new-bath-bomb-2/I have created yet another perfect sphere. I am so happy. This little beauty is Ruby Red. A perfectly snowy white bomb inlaid with ruby red glitter. Fun for the entire family. Let’s get fizzy…Shall we?! I hope I am not boring the world of blogging with my insane idea that I can actually start a business. But thank you to all who are pushing me forward. Like what you see? You can stop my small business website at http://www.shontals.com thank you all in advance.
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Sun, 18 Mar 2018 19:14:16 +0000easywaystosavetheworldhttps://easywaystosavetheworld.wordpress.com/go/personal-care/cruelty-free-cleaning/This is a very emotive subject for me because I am a very strong believer that all members of the animal kingdom are equally important. It doesn’t matter if it’s a flea or a lion, everything has a purpose and everything contributes to the natural order of things.

However, I will refrain sharing my own views on the subject enough to say that I now make every effort to buy products which are certified as cruelty free.

I don’t know about you but i could spend hours in the shopping isle trying to choose a washing up liquid or a detergent. Generally speaking, we all have our favourites and just simply buy the same brand over and over again.

I now use Ecover products. It is stamped with the Leaping Bunny and the bottle is not only made from recycled plastics but also recyclable as well. I have also found that Method products are also the same and, having used their products in the past, I can vouch for their cleaning power!

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Sun, 18 Mar 2018 17:53:46 +0000OneTinyFishhttps://fishfordeals.wordpress.com/go/personal-care/mitchum-for-women-smart-solid-clinical-performance/Mitchum for women Smart Solid Clinical Performance Powder,2.5-Ounce is on sale for just $3.44 + FREE Shipping on orders over $25 / Free with Prime. Check out with Subscribe and Save, and pay $3.27, or, if you have 5 subscriptions this month, the price goes down to $2.92. Plus, clip 30% off coupon on page and pay as low as $1.89!

Clinical Performance Formula for protection against wetness and odor

Maximum level of active ingredient to effectively combat wetness

Keeps you smelling great for 48 hours

Disclaimer: The prices above are accurate as of the time of posting. Amazon prices may change without notice – always check the price before placing the order.All posts may contain affiliate links that help support the site at no additional cost to you.

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Fri, 16 Mar 2018 22:16:51 +0000John W Ingalls MDhttps://coldturkeyleftovers.wordpress.com/go/work/21-things-you-didnt-know-about-me/https://thebigblondebrain.com/go/personal-care/stopped-started-doing-by-28/
Fri, 16 Mar 2018 18:54:35 +0000Casey Sellershttps://thebigblondebrain.com/go/personal-care/stopped-started-doing-by-28/I wish I could say these are things I stopped and started doing a lot earlier than 28-years-old but timing is everything. Between the ages of 26 and 28, I did a lot of adulting, fast. It was during these “formative” years that I started making changes in my overall well-being. Since making these small yet imperative changes life has been a lot…lighter. Here are a few things I stopped and started doing once I hit 28.

I stopped runnin’ around, spending my money on nonsense

I started being more conscious of how I was spending money and what I was spending it on. For example, I didn’t HAVE to go into Tj Maxx for one top and walk out with 3 picture frames, a “welcome mat”, several candles, and a buffet of face masks because “they were only $2.99”.

I started keeping my car clean

I will never forget the look on my girlfriends face when she got into my car a few years ago and I literally had to scoop trash and other nonsense from the passenger seat and toss it in the back. Basically, I started treating my car like my vehicle and not a literal mobile home.

I stopped drinking with the sole intention of getting drunk

My days of playing tour-de-Franzia and shot-gunning beers on a Wednesday night are long behind me. SO, for me to say “OMG, do you want to get day-drunk” means I am having two glasses of wine and then I can’t feel my face. Also, a girl has stuff to do! I can’t spend the whole next day hungover binging double cheeseburgers and Hulu. However, that’s not to say I don’t go out and enjoy myself from time to time.

I started washing my face every single night

Fact: I can only name three times in the last three years that I have gone to bed with makeup on and without washing my face. I don’t know if it is an OCD thing at this point, but I attribute (without sounding conceited) my fairly clear skin to the way I take care of it.

I stopped cursing out loud, and very loudly, in public

Ugh. Nothing grinds my gears more than when I hear an adult, a grown woman, curse out loud in public despite who may be around. Let me be the first to admit, I am not innocent in this but that was years ago and if you are my age and not being more conscious of your language in public, it’s time to staaaart.

I started making more time for self-care

It’s amazing what happened to my mental health once I started taking time for myself. As a married gal, I found myself making no time for me, filling up my cup. It started with little things like bubble baths, getting my nails done, face masks, you know, girl stuff.

I stopped needing so many friends

Quality over quantity people, it’s that simple. My roster is pretty full of nothing but great, great people.

I started having higher standards – in every area

In my marriage, friendships, job, you name it, I started really evaluating my self-worth and what I deserved in every area of my life. This can probably go hand-in-hand with improving my self-care but this was bigger than that.

What would you add to this list, is there anything about your life that you changed up once you hit a certain age? Share yours in the comments below!

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Fri, 16 Mar 2018 10:19:57 +0000CareBridge Home Health Carehttps://carebridgecare.wordpress.com/go/home-health-care/suggestions-before-hiring-a-caregiver-to-make-home-health-care-more-successful/Arranging home care for aging parents or loved ones can be a complicated process for several reasons. However, with the right Home Health Care Agency in Middlesex County, you can safely steer through the process of hiring professional care. If you can find high quality home care personnel to provide the care, you will be able to relax knowing that your family is well taken care of and in safe hands at home.

CareBridge Home Care provides home health care in Mercer County and strives to provide the best quality home health care service with personalized individual care. Here are some suggestions for individuals who are looking at home care arrangements for their loved ones.

Some tips and suggestions that you can use as a reference point for sourcing a caregiver for your loved one.

1. The procedure must start early:
If you are preparing for a discharge from the hospital for a loved one, initiate the process of home health care while in the hospital. It will never be too early to start this process. You need to find the right Health Care Agency who will take the time to understand your loved one’s situation and that will develop a plan-of-care that is directed towards the patient’s individual needs. There are many Health Care agencies in Middlesex County and Mercer County who are in the home health care market with the best standards of care by offering quality and trained home care personnel. You may want to contact multiple agencies and evaluate all the options while starting the process early.

2. Trust your conscience before finalizing on an agency:
Don’t rush into a decision. You need to feel comfortable with the agency you choose for Home Health Care in Mercer County. Have an initial interview process with a few agencies. Also, speak to the care co-coordinators in the hospital or rehab facility to confirm who would be a good fit for your loved one.

3. Utilize the value added services:
Ask for extra assistance. Health Care Agencies in Middlesex County will send a qualified care coordinator or a nurse for a per-assessment visit. As a professional, they are usually the best person to plan the various aspects of the care process and may also be able to help save on some home care costs. A visit to the patient’s home is also helpful to understand the home environment, check for safety concerns, and evaluate if any equipment is needed for proper care.

4. Follow routines and keep personal details available
You know your loved one better than anyone else. Share with the caregiver any details they will need to ensure proper care. Write down food preferences, medications, likes and dislikes, hobbies, and interests. Help them to get more familiarized with your love one. This will also grow trust and foster a better relationship with the care provider. Other information needed may be:

Emergency contact numbers- if family is at distance, closest relative, family friends, etc…

Doctor’s contact number and name.

In emergency: family member name and contact number.

Home care services are usually provided by licensed home care agencies such a CareBridge Home Health Care in Middlesex County. They are available 24hrs/day, seven days/week depending on the patient’s needs. They are a state-licensed Home Care agency and meet state requirements for patient care and management and provide Home Health Care in Mercer County. Individuals requiring professional and skilled home care services can rely on CareBridge to provide a professional care experience. Their home health aides and supporting staff help their clients with meal preparation, bathing, dressing, and housekeeping according to the individual needs of each client. They are recognized as a reputable and compassionate home health careagency in New Jersey that strives to provide exceptional care in a cost-effective manner. For information please call CareBridge at 732-722-7800 or email us at info@carebridgehomecare.com.

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Thu, 15 Mar 2018 12:05:53 +0000YouInMindHCShttps://youinmindhcs.wordpress.com/go/home-care-services/best-personal-care-services-to-elder-parent/There is the stage when you or your family member needs extra care and that time recognisance as an ” Elder period”. At that stage people used to behave like child or want to have all things which may harm themselves. At this stage there is requirement for full concentration over their health and regular have doctor consultant.

There may changes in behaviour like

Headache

Nightmares

hopelessness

sadness

fear or Anxiety

crying alot

Thoughts about traumatic events

Trouble managing emotions

To overcome with such kind of problems here are listing various Personal care Homemaker services important activities

Communication: Its very important to provide best medical care and regular be part of their life. The communication with loved ones is the best way to avoid all the above symptoms , The long talk can hale their wounds and they are able to tell their story to you so to help your elder parents its very important to communicate.

Exercise: To have outer or can say to take natural air is very important in this polluted era. And to have exercise at morning is the best way to make your health stable . Or we can say to safe from various health disease make sure you are having regular exercise walk.

Spend Time with Friends and family : Another fact about elder time that they start avoiding to have words with their family member and friends which may causes health issues like dementia or any other serious problem. So its important to have communication with family to make your life circle easy.

Meditate: Meditation can be defined as a practice where an individual focuses their mind on a particular object, thought or activity to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.

How is your week going? I have been nursing a cold for a couple of days now. The hot weather isn’t helping matters, I am dying for a cold drink but the flu tells me otherwise.

In my last post I mentioned I was going to talk about my black soaps. For clarity I will walk you through the process of making one of our hottest selling products. The process isn’t as easy as it seems but the reviews we get daily has been encouraging and quiet motivating.

The black soap needs no introduction, it is one product that has been there for centuries and in my opinion unites us as Africans. Most African countries produce the traditional black soap and it is a household necessity especially in the rural areas. Some come in granules others in solid form. I source mine from Ghana and I get them in large solid slabs. This is because I am always preparing a fresh batch every 2 weeks. I have used the same vendor for the past 3 years because my formulations come out great !!!. Another reason why i have stuck with the same vendor is because not all black soaps lather well as I have come to realise. That doesn’t sit well with me LOL.

So, basically we customize the african black soap and made it our own. Currently, we stock 4 variants of black soap and they all contain different ingredients based on the skin condition and the clients preference. We have the Baby glow soap( nourishes, heal, repair and make skin youthful like a baby). The Spots and anti- blemish soap( to treat acne, pimples, rashes, eczema, body odour, dermatitis, spots, white heads etc). The Tone & Exfoilate ( it removes dead skin cells, evens the skin tone, and makes your complexion smooth and radiant). The Extra white black soap lightens the skin in a safe and natural way, fades discoloration or pigmentation) and gives you that flawless glow.

Everyone has their method of working with the black soap. Some make them in liqiid form like bath wash, others make them in bar form. I prefer the pounding method, which comes out in a paste form. I choose this method because it allows the ingredients seep into the soap well.

There are three stages of customizing our soaps. The first is to break the soaps into pieces. The second stage is adding the ingredients which includes herbs, leaf powder, seeds, roots, extracts, oils, raw butters, plant based fragrances, hydrosols etc. The third stage is allowing the ingredients marinate for hours into the soap.

This is followed by stirring the mixture to ensure that it is well saturated. One last pounding on the mortar to make sure no lumps are in paste. Thereafter, they are scooped into clean jars and left to cure for 24hrours.

Lest i forget before buying black soaps make sure it is not the type prepared with water. Most people add water during the black soap making process, but my black soaps do not contain a drop of water. Over time black soaps containing water go rancid and affect your skin.

Let me state here that the common belief is that black soap dries out the skin. This isnt entirely true, during the process of making the soap i always use sufficient amount of raw butters, carrier oils and humectants like vegetable glycerine. To ensure that the skin isn’t stripped of it’s natural oils. So if your skin dries after using the soap then maybe not enough quantity of emollients and humectants was used. However, we do have people with naturally dry skin, with such people anything dries out their skin very fast.

For naturally dry skin people I often recommend drug store emollient creams like Cetaphil, Aqueous skin solution cream, Lubriderm or our souffle body butter made with white honey to be used along side the black soap.

Viola! We have our creamy and rich black soaps ready for use. They also smell heavenly too!!. If you love face packs like i do. Then you will find that our black soaps are perfect for face or body mask. Just wet your skin, apply over wet skin and leave for 5-7mins before washing off with your loofah. The Spots & Anti- blemish black soap is everyone’s favorite during the warm weather because it contains apple cider vinegar which kills bacteria’s that grow on the skin.

Our black soaps are sold in wholesale and retail rates and can be shipped nation and world wide. If you wish to go through our customer feedbacks simply log on to Instagram and search our handle @tresbodorganics OR our Facebook page : Tresses & Body Organics

Guess What’s Back?…Whole Foods Market limited edition Beauty Bag. Whole Foods Market’s 4th Annual Beauty Week kicks off from March 21st-28th. Inside the Beauty Bag you will find natural beauty products that is sold at Whole Foods Market Whole Body department. Some of these beauty and skincare items are already on the shelves and now you will get introduced to new Whole Food’s favorites. The Beauty Bag will be available for sale at $20 (valued at $90.00). I see so many great items in my box that I can’t wait to try them all out. If your into natural organic products, mineral based items, and personal care products that don’t included: phthalates, microbeads, triclosan, BHT, BHA, aluminum chlorohydrate and more, you should pamper yourself with this bag of treats. They screen for 75 plus ingredients that’s been banned in personal care products to make sure they sell the best to their customers. So all you natural beauties, stop by your local Whole Foods Market next week to pick up your Beauty Bag and get a Whole Beauty Experience.

A makeup bag essential! The gentle, alcohol-free aloe vera formula makes this a favorite go-to toner for refreshing skin on the run.

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Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:49:54 +0000Melissa (I Crashed the Web)https://theladiescraftbeersociety.com/go/meeting-preview/lcbs-preview-homemade-body-wash/We’re getting excited for our next LCBS meeting, which is just a few days away! In the meantime, we wanted to share with you a sneak peek of our next craft and the beer theme. We’ll update you after the meeting and let you know how it went.

Meeting Host: Melissa

Beer Theme: In honor of last week’s International Women’s Day, the lovely LCBS ladies are bringing a beer (or drink) that celebrates womanhood. This is a beer that makes you feel feminine, womanly, or just a beer that makes you proud to be a girl!

Craft: Homemade Body Wash

Why I Chose the Craft: As a novice crafter (you should see my mitten-making skills), I was seeking a craft that was not only easy, but that could also be done if I happened to have a curious toddler on my barely-there 30+ week pregnant lap. Plus, I’m always a fan of something useful and who doesn’t use body wash? (Don’t answer that – I know that there are some of you out there) AND, even though it has snowed 9 out of the last 7 days (maybe an exaggeration), it’s still almost spring and we all need some spring (body) cleaning!

Craft Difficulty Level: 1

Supplies Needed (per person):

⅔ cup liquid castile soap

¼ cup raw honey

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil

50 – 60 drops essential oils (such as lavender, grapefruit, rose)

Container to hold your body wash – glass would be more environmentally friendly, but again, see note about curious toddler

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Tue, 13 Mar 2018 01:41:21 +0000gimphackhttps://gimphack.wordpress.com/go/uncategorized/beware-of-people-who-exaggerate-their-credentials/Right now I have a PCA that is exaggerating her credentials. I believe this woman is a pathological liar. This woman says she is a nurse and has special credentials in trek care and feeding tube care. She also claims she used to drive for the emta lift service, which is our door to door bus service. You mean to tell me you have all these credentials, but you taken a job as a professional ass wiper. This weekend she told me that she could not work for me , because her back hurts from the accident that she got into with the company van. I naturally called the company to find out more about this accident and her injuries and they said that the van has not been driven for a while and there are no reported accidents. This lady also Clans to know the company director and he has stated then he does not know her and does not have any personal communication with her. Since day one she has claimed to have Tim’s personal number , but he has stated that he would never give his personal number out to anyone.
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Mon, 12 Mar 2018 22:22:43 +0000morelikemeukhttps://morelikeme.co.uk/go/life/lets-talk-about-alcohol/“I’m not drinking”

Generally, the reaction I’ve experienced to these words has been pretty shocking. It starts with “why?” or “are you on meds?”, usually followed by a shit pregnancy joke and one of the following scenarios:

Just have one. You can have one. Why don’t you just have a few? You could leave your car. We’ll just get a taxi. Oh go on, just one.

Oh my goooood, I feel so baaaaad! I can’t drink if you’re not drinking too. *reluctantly sips large Sauvignon in between sentences*

Both are awful. So I’d like to break things down here…

The idea that what we see as ‘normal’ is filling yourself full of something that dehydrates you, encourages bad decision making and inhibits self-control, while also giving you an absolutely banging head the next day, just hit me like a ten-tonne lorry (more on that later) as ridiculous.

It was only by taking a look back that I really started to appreciate how the pattern had formed in my own life.

From around age 15, most people enter into the countdown to adulthood and with it, legal drinking. At this age, the world is against you, your friends are everything, and peer pressure fills the air in equal amounts to Impulse body spray. Jagerbombs & vodka very nearly killed me on more than one occasion. You’re expected to drink. And this inevitably sets a tone for the adulting we have to come…

Most of my adult social interactions have been based around alcohol. Bars, clubs, dinners…even the theatre. Everything starts with a drink or two.

And then you start to associate drinking with relaxing and unwinding and having fun.

And then you find yourself with a glass of wine (or three) every evening after a ‘hard day’ at work.

And then you don’t feel like you can have fun without having a drink.

And then you start to feel tired and fatigued all the time and your eating habits get hella crazy and you can’t quite put your finger on why you’re feeling so shite…

These aren’t necessarily all things that everyone goes through, and there can be any number of reasons for not feeling yourself, but alcohol is never going to help. Like ever.

It’s difficult to put into words how much cutting out alcohol for a few months has changed my life so far. I feel like I’ve got more hours in the day, I’m more motivated, I’ve lost weight, I feel more confident, my skin has improved massively…I basically feel like the best version of myself. Literally living my best life.

I would encourage anyone to try cutting down or cutting out alcohol, even for a few months. But most importantly, we need to shake this goddamn stigma attached to ‘not drinking’.

Pressuring someone who is making a choice not to drink, whatever their reason may be, is bollocks.

To anyone reading this, the next time you find yourself on either side of this situation, please stop and think. Don’t be part of the problem, and don’t let anyone bring your fine self down for making healthy choices. You do you boo.

And, for anyone who’s interested in going sober for good, or just wanting to have a short dry-spell, I’m going to be sharing my experiences around the world – sin alcohol.

Let me know your thoughts and experiences of the sober life and keep an eye on the blog for my next adventures.

When I started this blog, I promised myself no click-bait-y titles like “Four Simple Tricks to Become a Millionaire”. So I suppose I could’ve called this post “Tips for Women”, but “Hacks” did sound more exciting, so you’ll have to live with the click-bait-y-ness :) Anyway, what I wanted to write about might be a little personal, and it only applies to the female half of the population: My top four women’s personal care tips. They’re all changes that I’ve made in my life, and would never go back. YMMV.

Cleaning up

I recently purchased and installed this bidet as an add-on to my toilet. A bidet is basically a toilet extension that shoots a stream of water at your nether regions. It has both a regular mode and a women’s wash mode that angles the water stream at the right place and the right width. And I’m telling you, I’m NEVER GOING BACK. I’ll spare you from further details… but it feels clean :)

Bidets are easy to install – all you need is a flat-head screwdriver. They’re removable and don’t require access to the main water (at least for the model I used), so you can install them even if you live in a rental. Bidets are useful for men, too. They’re common in my partner’s home country, and he’s really enjoyed our new “luxury” toilet in the regular mode as well.

There are different models with all kinds of fancy features like heated toilet sets, remote controls, etc., but we went for the basic model, which has already been a game-changer.

Shaving with Castile soap

I don’t know about you, but I used to have endless bottles of shaving cream lying around. Dual-use products are one of my favorite travel items, and I try to use dual-use products in the bathroom, too. Castile soap make great soap and shaving cream. No need to clutter up your shower with extra products – I use Castile soap as body wash and shaving cream at the same time. I usually lather my legs to wash and then shave to rinse.

I also use the Castile soap as hand soap, by diluting it with water and adding a few drops of tea tree oil for its (supposedly) disinfectant properties. One drawback of using it as hand soap is that it doesn’t foam up that much, which my partner hates, tbh. But overall, I love Castile soap because it’s multi-purpose and reduces the number of personal care products you need to buy.

Menstrual cup

I’ve used pads (and sometimes tampons) for most of my life. Menstrual cups looked icky at first, but I decided to give it a try. It did take a bit of practice to get the hang of putting it in, and to find the right cup with the right shape to prevent leaks (see comparison). Once that got sorted out, it’s been great.

First of all, it feels cleaner during use, similar to a tampon. Second, you don’t have to remember to bring tampons/pads around with you. No more sneaking off to the bathroom while trying hide the pad in your hand, or hobbling to the pharmacy in a panic in the middle of the workday. Third, it is environmentally friendly. When I made the final decision to switch, I donated all of my pads to a friend. (Is that creepy?) No more female diapers for me, please. Fourth, menstrual cups are cost-effective, since the silicone cups last forever. (Unless you accidentally melt yours while boiling it clean: true story.)

Switching to the ring

For years, I used the pill. This involves the daily routine of setting an alarm, rooting around for the pack of pills, finding a glass of water, and taking the pill. There’s the annoyance of counting the days to make sure you didn’t accidentally miss any of the previous pills and need to catch up. And it’s all over if you forget the pills while traveling on an overnight trip.

When I mentioned these annoyances to my gynecologist, he suggested changing to the ring. And I’ve found it so much better! Instead of setting an alarm every single day, you set a calendar event twice a month. It’s set and forget. In terms of cost, it should be covered by your healthcare insurance, the same as the pill. In my opinion, if it’s the same cost, why not choose the more time-efficient option? (Note: Please consult your healthcare provider.)

Final thoughts

So those are my tips! As you can see, they’re mostly geared towards time and cost efficiency. I hope they are helpful, without being too “hippy-ish”. Women have additional personal care needs, so my goal is to simplify that part of my life as much as possible.

It has been ages since I kept in touch. Lord knows how tough it gets juggling between work, getting a life, and running a business. But I know I had to let you guys know what has been going on. You will agree with me that when you have a busy life style it takes its toll on your skin. I discover one of the problems I battle with is skin discoloration. Yes, I know she makes skin care product so what could be the problem LOL.

Personally, it has little to do with my products or not having time for my skin. Rather, I tend to experience skin discoloration in two instances. One when I travel from one country to another. About two years ago I travelled to central Africa for Xmas holidays and within weeks my complexion looked dull, I went 2 shades darker. Perhaps my skin was reacting to a change in the weather, water, food etc. Another instance when I experience skin discoloration is when i am stressed out. I seem to be going through a lot lately (work related) .

The good thing is that I have very clear skin with no spots. But that extra glow seems to fade off whenever I am working too hard or longer hours. After a while, you find your skin loosing its lustre. For some people they experience pigmentation after exposure to the sun and not getting enough rest and sleep. When faced with this problem, I turn to my facepacks and my handmade black soaps.

Each face pack is made with a variety of Ayuverdic herbs, bark, roots and seeds, all blended to help brighten and even out the skin tone. I find adding natural clay such as kaolin or zeolite mineral clay to the face pack also helps in extracting radicals that increases pigmentation in the skin. When mixing my mask into a paste i use either honey or greek yoghurt. There are days i create time and use my exfoilating handmade black soap made with natural ingredients like orange peel (i will be talking about the variety of black soaps we stock in my next post).

Another variable to consider when battling skin discoloration is eating right. Eating fruits like watermelon, papaya and pineapple helps me a lot because they hydrate my skin and they contain high amounts of vitamin C which helps make the skin fresh. If you are always on the go, get a fruit blender and make some fruit smoothie with a bit of vegetables like kale and lettuce added to it.

Till next time, remember “happiness is a habit, so is your skincare…cultivate it”.

“If you think the pursuit of good health is expensive and time-consuming, try illness.” – Lee Swanson

A healthy lifestyle and weight loss are not so difficult to achieve, as any health enthusiast will tell you. My own experience in this journey has taught me that once you take charge of your eating habits, you will find the rest falling into place. A healthy diet is the first step towards a fit and toned body. Any amount of exercise will not compensate for a bad diet. As they say, fitness starts at the kitchen.

Breaking the rules

Keeping meals simple and fuss-free is a fool-proof way to stick to healthy diet plans. I’m not too stringent on the rules. No counting calories, no sweating over superfoods, no guilt, I just limit the portion size. If I feel like going out with friends for a pizza or an ice cream, I go ahead and don’t feel guilty about it, because for the next few weeks I ensure my meals are healthy. If one meal is loaded with carbs, the next two meals will be carb-free. My mantra is “don’t deprive yourself, just moderate”.

Buying right

The starting point is always groceries. You eat what you buy. One look at your refrigerator will tell you if you’re eating right. For instance, while planning to include soups, salads and whole grains in my diet plan, I ensure that there’s enough stock of vegetables, egg, meat and fish, nuts and seeds, beans and whole grains, flavouring and seasoning ingredients. I try to refrain from processed food as much as possible, except for whole grain bread and digestives for those sudden hunger pangs. Cakes, doughnuts, chocolates, fries and the like are for parties and occasions.

Changing the recipes, not the cuisine

Any change in habit is difficult, especially when it involves food since we always associate food with comfort, feelings and emotions. I followed the advice of a nutritionist: “Don’t try to shift entirely from what you’ve been eating all your life”. If you’ve been used to Indian food, you need not shift to a Mediterranean diet or any other cuisine. I just tweak my recipes to make them healthier. This way it’s easier and you’re more likely to stick to the diet plan. Check this out: 10 best healthy food substitutes.

Taking baby steps to good health

I made small changes, one at a time. To start with, I reduced processed food the first month, reduced sugar and carbs the next, used more of whole grains, nuts and seeds, increased vegetable intake, made healthier breakfast, lunch and dinner options one by one. This helped me develop a pattern in my eating habits that has stayed with me until today. The rule of thumb is to make some healthy change the first day of the month and stick to it (forever!)

Eating a king’s breakfast, prince’s lunch and pauper’s dinner

Eating breakfast with whole grains and vegetables/egg/meat keeps you full longer. Same goes for lunch. Switching to soups for dinner especially has been quite effective for me in many ways – better health, weight loss and more energy. Though it was not easy initially (I used to get hunger pangs in the middle of the night), I got used to the habit eventually. An added benefit of following a healthy diet is that you will suddenly realise you don’t crave for that unhealthy stuff anymore.

Do you have any tips that worked for you? I would love to hear from you. Please share in the comments section.